Bukayo Saka left St James’ Park convinced that Arsenal had delivered “a big statement” after the late turnaround against Newcastle on another afternoon of questionable officiating.
Losing going into the closing stages, and having seen a penalty overturned by an insistent VAR after Nick Pope took Viktor Gyökeres out, Arsenal struck twice in the final minutes through Mikel Merino and Gabriel to claim three points at a ground where they have so often been frustrated.
Speaking afterwards, Saka said: “It was a big result.
“We’ve come here in the past and results have gone against us, or decisions and stuff like that.
“It was starting to feel like that again today, but we have a big character, a big fight to turn it around, so we’re really happy.
“In the past, we’ve come here and had decisions go against us and whatnot, and almost today, with the penalty and some of the decisions, and Nick Pope having an unbelievable game.
“But we dug in and we showed that character, that resilience we have, so I’m really proud of all the boys. We made a big statement today. It’s really good for us, you can see it in all of our faces.”
Saka, wearing the captain’s armband with Martin Ødegaard on the bench, was substituted after 70 minutes as he continues his managed return from injury. From the bench, he joined the celebrations as Gabriel’s stoppage-time header sealed victory.
On that moment, he said: “It was top, man, we had to run out to the corner flag and share the moment with Gabi! It’s a big moment for us as a team. I was enjoying [the game]. I was feeling good, obviously managing it having just come back and three games in a week. I felt really good out there.
“I felt we dominated the game, we controlled it, and at the end, we got what we deserved. It’s a beautiful feeling every time I get to wear the armband, and even better when we get three points, so I’m really happy.”
Speaking to Sky immediately after the final whistle Saka also said of the penalty, “It’s things like this that always go against us.”
For Arsenal, denied and undone on Tyneside too many times in recent memory, this was indeed a statement win. As Saka said, it was the night his side showed they can withstand both opponents and officiating to make a genuine statement in the title race.